Shutdown Day 2: Threats of mass government firings, no action in Congress

WASHINGTON — The second day of the U.S. government’s shutdown offered little sign of a resolution, with House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries saying direct communication remained non-existent with President Donald Trump and GOP congressional leaders.

Trump was publicly adding to his threats of mass firings of federal workers. He made it clear in a social media post and elsewhere Thursday that if the shutdown continues, he and his lieutenants will be targeting some of the "many Democrat Agencies."

There was a complete pause in legislative activity at the Capitol, with no votes in either chamber. The House has not been in session all week and the Senate did not convene for votes in honor of Yom Kippur.

But Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) said Democrats will have another opportunity on Friday afternoon to join Republicans in voting for a clean, short-term bill to reopen the government.

That would be a fourth Senate effort to advance that House-passed bill, legislation that could replenish the dried-up funding for shuttered agencies. Three early attempts failed to gain enough Democratic votes to move the bill, as required under that chamber’s rules.

In an interview with NBC that aired Thursday night, Thune said senators likely would not hold votes over the weekend even if the bill fails to be advanced for a fourth time. That would extend the shutdown until at least Monday, when the House is scheduled to be back in Washington.